2

Marker of immunity:
Surface ab is either a response to hep b infection or to injection of hep b vaccine. The titer indicates how much antibody is present in the blood. This level varies with time during the course of infection or following an injection.
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4

Hep B vaccination:
Hello and welcome to HealthTap, what was the time interval between the shots of the initial series? When did you got the series and how much was the time b/w the series and obtaining the titers. Thank you
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5

Probably effective:
If one is doing a blood titer test, the result will decide if she is immune or not immune. The shot schedule in the past won't matter anymore. Everybody with close or frequent contact with a hep b carrier (especially healthcare workers) should have their titers tested. Some people who get the shots at exactly the recommended time can still have very low titers, and need additional booster shots.
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6

Lots of people...:
Lots of people get their hep b titers done. It is a simple blood test (just like getting a cholesterol test). The advantage of getting the titer done is that the titer will indicate whether or not booster vaccinations are needed now. If the titer is too low, booster shots are usually needed, regardless of the timing of the shots in the past.
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8

Hep B non-responders:
5-15% of people do not develop the appropriate antibodies following the 3 vaccine series for Hepatitis B. If the series is repeated and there is again no response (30-50% of people WILL respond after a second series), the person is considered a 'nonresponder'. Nonresponders should be counseled about Hep B transmission and offered HBIG if exposed.
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10

Vaccine:
Vaccine failure. I had similar response. 5 to 15 % do not respond (vaccine non responders). Your doctor can test you for hepatitis and if negative start another series of vaccines
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11

More info needed:
If you have not had any HBV vaccine and your anti-hbs antibody is positive, you've had the infection (and the anti-hbc antibody is positive too). No vaccine needed. If you are in the midst of a 3 dose HBV vaccine series and your anti-hbs is now positive, finish the series. It will provide better protection.
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13

Nonresponder?:
People who do not mount immune response following a primary 3 dose series should have the entire series repeated. Inappropriate dose /admininistration, chronic disease and habits can can cause this.
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14

Yes:
If you were previously vaccinated but lost the hepatitis b surface antibody response over time, the immune system still has a "memory" of it. When you are re-exposed to the vaccine, even many years later, you can have a very quick response. Some people had prior infection but it wasn't recognized because they were not tested for hepatitis b core antibody. They can also have a rapid response.
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16

Please ask again:
It makes no sense what you wrote. There is usually on the test results the results and then what the test would be if one did not have the situation or infection. If you are reading your lab reports and it says first hepatitis b positive. Then that means you are either immune to this infection because of vaccination or have had the infection. There has to be more information than that though.
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17

No active infection:
When people have reactive hepatitis b surface antigen, they have proteins from hepatitis b in their blood. These people have active infection and may need treatment. If there is no reactive hbsag, then most likely there is no active infection. Rarely, people who have hepatitis b core antibody detected, but no hepatitis b surface antibody, can have chronic active infection.
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19

Depends:
I would want to know the following information: are they hepatitis b surface antigen reactive? Are they hepatitis b e antibody reactive? Did this person likely get hepatitis b as a baby or small child or when they were older? What is the hepatitis b dna (viral load) level? What is the alt (liver enzyme) value? In isolation this lab value can mean multiple things.
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20

In many laboratories:
A "borderline nonreactive" result is reported as "indeterminate." A positive result is an antibody titer >12 mIU/mL; this means the individual is immune to hepatitis B. A negative result is <5.0. The CDC defines a fairly large range of indeterminate: > 5.0 but < 12.0. Indeterminate means "unable to determine immune status." Most would advise (re)immunization in this case. Stay well:)
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